Egyptian Sailors’ Hostage Crisis in Somalia Deepens

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The crisis involving Egyptian sailors held aboard the oil tanker M/T Eureka has taken a more complicated turn after Somali pirates who seized the vessel off Yemen’s coast last month reportedly raised their ransom demand from $2 million to $3 million in exchange for the crew’s release.

More than 45 days have passed without any clear indication of a breakthrough since the tanker was hijacked on May 2 near Yemen’s Shabwa governorate. The vessel was then sailed through the Gulf of Aden to the Somali coast. The crew comprises 12 sailors, including eight Egyptians and four Indians.

According to a statement issued Wednesday by the sailors’ families, negotiations had previously made progress, resulting in an agreement between the shipowner and cargo owner on one side and the pirates on the other to pay a ransom for the hostages’ release. However, delays in transferring the agreed sum prompted the captors to threaten to scrap the deal and increase their demands.

Negotiations Hit Obstacles

Captain El-Sayed El-Shazly, head of Egypt’s Maritime Officers Syndicate, said efforts to secure the sailors’ release had recently encountered setbacks. He indicated that the pirates raised their demand to $3 million after an earlier agreement with the vessel’s owner on a $2 million payment.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, El-Shazly said Egypt’s Foreign Ministry and Maritime Safety Authority had undertaken contacts and diplomatic efforts at various levels to support negotiations. He categorically ruled out military intervention, warning that any rescue operation would entail serious risks to the hostages’ lives and safety.

With release talks stalled, relatives fear the crisis could become even more difficult to resolve. In their statement, the families warned that continued delays would “further complicate the situation and squander the strenuous efforts” undertaken by the authorities, urging the swift implementation of proposed solutions.

The families said the sailors have endured “45 days of pain, anxiety and anticipation” under difficult humanitarian conditions, including shortages of drinking water and adequate food. They have also launched a social media solidarity campaign under several hashtags, most notably “Save the Sailors.”

Amira Abu Saada, the wife of detained sailor Mohamed Radi El-Mahsab, described the ordeal as increasingly difficult as uncertainty surrounding the hostages’ fate drags on.

“Intermittent phone calls were our only source of reassurance,” she told Asharq Al-Awsat, noting that such contacts have become increasingly rare. The last call she received from her husband came on the second day of Eid al-Adha, more than three weeks ago.

Safety Questions Resurface

Since the hijacking in early May, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has said it has been closely following the case through coordination with the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu and contacts with Somali authorities aimed at ensuring the sailors’ safety and securing their release as quickly as possible.

The continued complications surrounding the case have revived debate over safety procedures and regulations governing Egyptian sailors working aboard foreign vessels.

“The incident underscores the need for a serious discussion about regulating the employment of Egyptian sailors abroad,” El-Shazly said. He called for stricter standards governing service on foreign ships, particularly vessels facing questions over safety compliance and operating conditions.

For years, piracy off the Horn of Africa posed a major threat to international shipping. Attacks peaked in 2008 and continued for years, disrupting one of the world’s most important maritime trade corridors. After declining significantly in recent years, piracy incidents have resurfaced since late 2023 amid growing regional security tensions and rising risks to global shipping routes.